This measure appeared on the November 2001 San Francisco ballot. What it does This Charter amendment wraps three unrelated items into one. It seeks to reform the Department of Elections by creating an Elections Commission, reconstitute the Ethics Commission, and change procedures for determining if the City Attorney has a conflict of interest.Why it is on the ballot Rather than place separate measures…

This measure appeared on the November 2001 San Francisco ballot. What it does This measure would require voter approval of a project by any San Francisco board, commission, department or other unit of government that would fill 100 acres or more of San Francisco Bay. It states that after certification of the project's environmental impact report (EIR) and conditional approval, the sponsoring entity shall…

This measure appeared on the November 2001 San Francisco ballot. What it does This ballot measure, introduced by Supervisor Mark Leno, authorizes revenue bonds for city-owned solar energy, renewable energy and energy conservation facilities in a principal amount not to exceed $100 million.Why it is on the ballot The city Charter currently authorizes the Board of Supervisors to provide for the issuance of…

This measure appeared on the November 2001 San Francisco ballot. What it does The San Francisco Community College District (City College of San Francisco/CCSF) is requesting voter authorization for $195 million in General Obligation (G.O.) bonds for a variety of capital projects. This request was placed on the ballot by a unanimous vote of the CCSF Board of Trustees.Why it is on the…

supply structure Generally speaking, wholesale power markets are comprised of large central station generating plants, usually remote from population centers, together with high voltage transmission lines needed to get power from those plants closer to where it is used. The retail portion of electric supply includes parts of the system closer to end-users, that are needed to transform the power into usable voltages, distribute it…

The author describes the effects of local planning and legislative decisions which have had an enormous impact on housing production.

Though decentralizing might be a understandable instinct after the terrorist attacks, Metcalf reminds us of the efficiency of density and importance of social interdependence that are only found in the city.

Though decentralizing might be a understandable instinct after the terrorist attacks, Metcalf reminds us of the efficiency of density and importance of social interdependence that are only found in the city.

Includes SPUR's analysis of nine city measures on the November 6, 2001 ballot.

Current Structure of Education Getting America's children ready to participate in the 21st century has become one of the nation's highest priorities, with educational issues in the forefront of national debate. A growing demand for excellence and student achievement is spurring a reevaluation of the way children learn and the nature of what is taught. At the same time that awareness grows about the critical…

The ways that people learn from and respond to the urban environment are critical to the prospects for sustainability. Ecologically designed urban landscapes must communicate cultural 'cues' for sustainable behavior.

SPUR makes four recommendations to expand the successful transit impact development fee.

This article uses 2000 census data to discuss major changes in San Francisco’s neighborhoods. It highlights changes in the Central Waterfront, South Beach, Bayview, the Presidio and Oceanview-Merced-Ingleside.

This article is an edited transcription of a discussion between SPUR Program Director Bruce Williams and California College of Arts Professor Mitchell Schwarzer about the changing nature of San Francisco as illuminated by the release of the first round of Census 2000 data.

Beryl Magilavy offers suggestions on how to update San Francisco governmental policies, and calls for greater transparency and an elected public advocate as potential answers to the problems.

SPUR suggests using the City's building and planning code as instruments to allow, encourage and, in some cases, require the use of green building techniques in private sector development.

The Redevelopment Agency is a key component of any effort to build a sustainable San Francisco. This article summarizes the findings from a SPUR-sponsored charrette to identify sustainable strategies for redevelopment areas.

Ecological parks are different from conventional, picturesque parks. They are places nature has reclaimed, they’re part of the urban whole, and they minimize resource use and waste outputs. At their best, they inspire a connection to the land.

This article discusses how technology, NIMBY-ism and commute patterns in the Bay Area changed in the 1990s and how these factors will affect continued sprawl in the first decade of the 21st century.

The article argues that transportation policy cannot achieve the best the outcomes unless it is driven by a collaborative process, uses performance measures and eliminates allocation formula.